Our last minute first ever trip without the kids: August 2009

Well, we did it. We actually took a trip to the world without our four kids. I really felt kind of bad about taking a trip without them, but after our fiascos on the plane I'm really glad we did it. I'm sure on our next trip our kids will be the best behaved young ones ever.

So let's back up a bit. It all started when my dh, Sam, came home from work after hearing about low airfares. He went straight to the computer and started looking at booking a quick trip for the two of us. I rolled my eyes at him and thought that he could look all he wanted, but there was no way we were taking a trip! Then, he started looking into disney...:lookaroun

I started thinking how we really deserved this trip...I had just finished school and got my license to teach, I had had eye surgery in June to correct a detached retina, Sam had been working a lot of overtime...we could use a break. Then we realized that if we used our points, we would only need to pay for air fare and food for this trip. Sold!!! :sohappy:

I booked the next day and the only thing available was Saratoga or Old Key West. We had never stayed at OKW, so we booked a studio. We waitlisted for BWV, but with only a month to be on the waitlist I figured we would never get it. We were happy to try something new anyway. We were very excited to get our vacation info in the mail!

Here we are all ready to go, when two days before we get off the waitlist it actually comes through!! Now we have to get into the mindset of staying at BWV. I think we can manage!

 

[mouselvrmom]

So we wandered around aimlessly for a bit.

Had to get this lovely shot of the castle with its crane.

Went to MLF. I think it's hilarious. Sam not so much.

Sam wanted to wait for Buzz. I didn't- because I knew what would happen. I kicked his but at TSM- I knew he'd be looking for redemption. And while I can aim and shoot on TSM, I find Buzz almost impossible. I can never tell where my beam is going and it hurts my hand to keep trying to shoot. But we went.

This is Sam's score. I almost hate to say mine.

Oh, ok, mine was more in the 20,000 range. I told you this one was hard for me. But just wait, we do get one more shot at riding TSM. You'll have to see if Sam can beat me at that one.

Hey, can't see the crane from this angle. Well, at least not as much.

 

[mouselvrmom]

Here's where we wait and wait and wait some more for our reservations at Crystal Palace. Even with all that I still love this place. I think it's somethign about how the light inside makes me feel. Anyway, I made Sam go. Besides it's a buffet, you know Sam will be happy.

See he looks happy already!

I'm happy too!

The characters were really great with us here with no kids. Especially Pooh Bear. He insisted that a friend take a picture of both Sam and I.

Sam must have taken a hundred pictures of me in here. I'm omitting all the ones of me with food in my mouth.

Eeyore was super friendly.

He was really hugging me.

Here's a lovely view of Tigger's behind that I got as he climbed up beside me and sat behind the family next to us.

Tough guys.

 

[mouselvrmom]

We were pretty stuffed when we got out of there. We thought more walking was in order.

Sam made me take a picture with the Liberty Bell.

It was there that we had a big bee discussion. We noticed this strange looking bee on some flowers. Then, we noticed that there were hundreds of bees on the flowers around. Yet we never seem bothered by them when drinking soda or anything. It seems strange.

And no trip would be complete without a ride on It's a Small World. See how happy Sam looks about this? It's blurry because I had to take it quick before he bolted.

Sam would like our house to look like this.

 

[mouselvrmom]

Philharmagic was just going to start so we popped in.

Another quick cool off into a shop.

I talked Sam into letting me drive. He never lets me drive. I wonder why?

He looks pretty terrified.

I don't care- I have a need for speed.

Sam thought about jumping out, but it says that you must remain seated.

Hee hee, Sam said that the kids can keep it on the track better than I can. I claim that's just because these cars don't go fast enough!

We really just wandered around a bit more until we headed back to the Boardwalk.

Does anyone else feel that they should being seeing twin girls standing side by side here?

Up next, more Studios. And my quest to beat Sam again on TSM....

 

[Disneyfalcon]

You got a lot done today, Jenn! Loving all the pictures! Your story of taking pictures on BTMR cracked me up!

I agree about Hall of Presidents. It was my first time in at least 12 years, and I was choked up too.

 

[HollyBelle]

LOVE the Speedway pictures... they, along with the commentary, crack me up! And your Crystal Palace pictures are so fun. Would you believe we've never eaten there?! It's on the list for breakfast this Christmas.

 

[HopLow]

Love your TR!! How exciting to do a spur of the moment trip like that! It's a totally different experience going without kids. Can't wait to read the rest!

And I agree with Sam. Love, love, love tudor houses and wish my house looked like that.

 

[disneygirl1]

Loving the update once again Jenn!! Man, my trip can not come soon enough!!!

 

[mouselvrmom]

You got a lot done today, Jenn! Loving all the pictures! Your story of taking pictures on BTMR cracked me up!

I agree about Hall of Presidents. It was my first time in at least 12 years, and I was choked up too.

It really should be a yearly thing we do. Sam was amazed at how many presidents he forgot about when they introduced all of them.

LOVE the Speedway pictures... they, along with the commentary, crack me up! And your Crystal Palace pictures are so fun. Would you believe we've never eaten there?! It's on the list for breakfast this Christmas.

Well, the Speedway can be a bit boring, you have to make it fun!

I can't believe you have never done Crystal Palace! I'm glad you're trying it this time!

Love your TR!! How exciting to do a spur of the moment trip like that! It's a totally different experience going without kids. Can't wait to read the rest!

And I agree with Sam. Love, love, love tudor houses and wish my house looked like that.

Thanks, even though it wasn't the same without the kids, we managed to have fun together!

Sam always says if we ever win the lottery we'll have a house like that!

Loving the update once again Jenn!! Man, my trip can not come soon enough!!!

Thanks! At least you have a trip coming up. I have to wait almost a year for another one. :lol:

 

[eagles]

wow, look how blue sam's eyes are! and i love your need for speed.

 

[mouselvrmom]

wow, look how blue sam's eyes are! and i love your need for speed.

They are very blue. All the kids got his blue eyes.

I had that thing floored, but unfortunately it just wouldn't go any faster! :lol:

 

[FrecklesFreeze]

Loving your trip report with lots of pictures!!
We are planning to go to Crystal Palace in December, and I am glad to peak on parts of it
Looking forward to see more~!

 

[HollyBelle]

Well, the Speedway can be a bit boring, you have to make it fun!

I can't believe you have never done Crystal Palace! I'm glad you're trying it this time!

:lol:

I couldn't agree more; it'll make for a fun scrapbook layout. Next time you should take our approach though... go get all wined up at dinner first! Now, that made it fun!

As for CP, we haven't made it there yet because a) those characters can easily be met in the parks and b) neither one of us is a big fan of buffets. With those two reasons in mind, we usually reserve our "character dining" for places with characters that can't readily be met somewhere else (at least not dressed to a certain theme anyway).

What I'm looking forward to is being able to get into the MK super early. :sohappy:

 

[DisneyGigi]

Lovin' the trip report! Wonderful pics and I am so jealous that you got to see Cowboy Goofy! We have never been lucky enough to see him.

 

[KnK]

Great trip report. Lovin all of it. Reading everyone's is really getting me ready for my up coming trip. Thanks for sharing.

 

[mouselvrmom]

Loving your trip report with lots of pictures!!
We are planning to go to Crystal Palace in December, and I am glad to peak on parts of it
Looking forward to see more~!

Thanks! I'm sure you'll love the Crystal Palace. Just be prepared for that long wait after check in. :lol:

I couldn't agree more; it'll make for a fun scrapbook layout. Next time you should take our approach though... go get all wined up at dinner first! Now, that made it fun!

As for CP, we haven't made it there yet because a) those characters can easily be met in the parks and b) neither one of us is a big fan of buffets. With those two reasons in mind, we usually reserve our "character dining" for places with characters that can't readily be met somewhere else (at least not dressed to a certain theme anyway).

What I'm looking forward to is being able to get into the MK super early. :sohappy:

Ok, let me get this straight. My approach to the speedway should be to 1.visit epcot and get a few margaritas 2. take the monorail and hop on the speedway. I could see that getting interesting. :lol:

I totally understand about the not rare characters thing. Pooh and friends are not my faves since you can see them out and about, but I just like the atmosphere of the place. We usually go to the Royal Table on our first full day to get into the MK early. It's fabulous! We really missed it this time!

Lovin' the trip report! Wonderful pics and I am so jealous that you got to see Cowboy Goofy! We have never been lucky enough to see him.

I didn't even know Cowboy Goofy existed until we saw him there! It was a real score! Thanks for the compliments!

Great trip report. Lovin all of it. Reading everyone's is really getting me ready for my up coming trip. Thanks for sharing.

Well, you're welcome. Although Sam thinks I'm sharing too much. He would rather not be in the trip report! :lol: I'm jealous of your upcoming trip!

 

[HollyBelle]

Ok, let me get this straight. My approach to the speedway should be to 1.visit epcot and get a few margaritas 2. take the monorail and hop on the speedway. I could see that getting interesting. :lol:

I totally understand about the not rare characters thing. Pooh and friends are not my faves since you can see them out and about, but I just like the atmosphere of the place. We usually go to the Royal Table on our first full day to get into the MK early. It's fabulous! We really missed it this time!

Yep... that's the way to do it! We had a bottle of wine at Artist Point, rode the boat over to MK and hopped on the Speedway.

As for the Royal Table I can't find it in me to pay almost $50 pp for a buffet style breakfast. I realize they include the "complimentary" picture package, but I think it's bogus, especially because it's something I don't even want. I have enough trouble swallowing $25 for a buffet breakfast and I only do that because of the "rare" character opportunities. If CRT had characters I couldn't meet elsewhere, well then that'd be another story. :lol: I know we need to try the Royal Table sometime, but I don't think it'll be anytime soon.

 

[mouselvrmom]

Yep... that's the way to do it! We had a bottle of wine at Artist Point, rode the boat over to MK and hopped on the Speedway.

As for the Royal Table I can't find it in me to pay almost $50 pp for a buffet style breakfast. I realize they include the "complimentary" picture package, but I think it's bogus, especially because it's something I don't even want. I have enough trouble swallowing $25 for a buffet breakfast and I only do that because of the "rare" character opportunities. If CRT had characters I couldn't meet elsewhere, well then that'd be another story. :lol: I know we need to try the Royal Table sometime, but I don't think it'll be anytime soon.

Yes, I know it's ridiculously overpriced, but Sam does love the potatoes they serve there. :lol: And the kids really get into the wishing ceremony. And I just love eating in the castle. I also prefer those sit down preplated meals over an actual buffet because I hate to get up and miss characters. :hammer::lol:

 

[mouselvrmom]

Oh, boo! We've made it to our last day in the parks. But I'm excited because this is our 50s Prime Time day and I'm really looking forward to my smores!

We get there at rope drop and head off to get fastpasses to TSM. The line is still so crazy. While waiting I notice this. The kids thought it was so funny that I took a picture of the Jonas Bros. I still don't know why they think I like them, but they sure do.

After the line for fastpasses the standby line is so long that we don't want to wait in it. So we head to the Great Movie Ride. Sam insists on taking this picture of me there that needs a flash. It drains my battery and the camera stops working. Not too big of a deal but I left my alternate plugged in at the hotel room. Oops

I of course worry about my battery the entire time and can't really concentrate. Sam says I suppose you want to go back for your battery. I'm like, heck yea! We decide that we will wait for our fastpass time and then go back. Sam is so thrilled.

Anyway, we head back to TSM and there is more smack talk. For some reason we get ushered into the wheelchair accessible line with another family. They must have needed people in there. So we got on super quick. I'm sure Sam is once again thinking he is going to win. He was totally beating me by a bit the entire time until we get to the final bonus round. And what do you know, I did it again!!!!!

My score is on the left again. I couldn't believe I beat him again. Sam took it relatively well. I'm sure he's just biding his time until we go back and he can get a rematch.

I was feeling pretty good at this time. And luckily my camera had recharged a bit so that it could be turned on and take a few pictures. That's how I got the above one. We took the boat to the Swan and Dolphin and walked to the Boardwalk.

Sam's first trip to the world was when he was 18. His mom took him and his sisters. He said that they didn't stay on property but he saw the Swan and Dolphin and thought they were the ultimate hotels. He always wanted to stay at them. Now that he's stayed in the 2 bedrooms around the property, I don't think he feels the same, but I took a picture for posterities sake anyway.

It was smoking hot, so I took a quick shower when we got back to the room. Sam would have liked to just stay and swim until our dinner reservation, but I had my mind set on a full day at the Studios and was not going to be happy without it. So after we cooled off we made our way back.

 

[mouselvrmom]

Before we had left the park, we had gotten fastpasses to TOT, so that's where were headed when we got back.

I love this ride. I believe this and HM are my favorites. I guess that's because I love spooky stuff so much. And I love the old Twilight Zone episodes. I was actually watching one before I went into labor with my son. It was seeing Roddy McDowell on an episode that made me pick the name Roderick.

We got out and there wasn't really much of a line, so we got back in line.

Ok, Tammy, I'm betting you can tell me what my problem is here. Am I letting too much light in or why is there that reflection of the light shown below? This happens a lot to me and I'm not sure why.

I decided spur of the moment that I was going to whip my camera out and see what happens if I try to take a picture here. Well, this is what happened.

When we got out of here, we decided that we should try the single rider at RnRC again. I thought this was pretty good for me. I do tend to get a bit motion sick, so two goes on TOT and then RnRC is quite the combination for me.

Up next (but probably not until tomorrow), I have a giggle fit while photographing Sam. I think I was causing more of a commotion than he was...